Indicator.



L. Jl RIECKHDPP.

INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909.

Patented Apr.26,1910.

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'raar si LOUIS J. RIECKI-IOFF, OF BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN.

INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

Application filed August 16, 1909. Serial No. 513,608.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis J. Rmokrrorr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brighton, in the county of Living ston and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an indicator adapted to form an attachment to rural mail boxes for the purpose of enabling the owner of the box to indicate to the mail carrier the kind and number of stamps, stamped envelops, post cards or other supplies he is desirous of obtaining, and also for the general purpose of a bulletin board, and the invention consists in certain features of construction whereby the indicator is specifically adapted for the purpose all as more fully hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a kcross-section through a conventional ,form 0f mailboX showing the indicator attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a detached perspective of the locking plate; Fig. 3 is a detached plan of the indicator plate enlarged and with the indicator slides removed; Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the indicator removed from the mail-box; Fig. 5 is a detail showing a small portion of the 'indicator plate on a larger scale; Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line :2a- Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan of the blank from which the indicator slides are formed; and Fig. 8 is a detached perspective of one of the indicator slides.

The same reference letters represent the same parts in all the figures.

The indicator which forms the subject matter of my invention is shown in Fig. l as applied to a mail-box of conventional outline and having a hinged drop lid B with a depending flange C. It comprises a tablet D which is provided with a number of slots such as a, al, a?, a3, and indicator slides ZJ which adjustable engage in these slots. The slides of which there are one or more in each slot are in the form of sheet metal loops struck up from spring metal blanks shown in Fig. 7 and shaped as shown in Fig. 8, the tongues b of each slide forming hooks which hold the slide in engagement with the slot as shown in Fig. 6 and the part Z22 forming an indicating finger which indicates the position of the slide in relation to certain numbers or marks placed along one or both edges of the slots as shown in Fig. 5. The slots are preferably provided along one edge with a series of recesses c into which the slide is adapted to engage and is thereby held against accidental displacement from its adjusted position. Thus the ordering Of stamps or stamped envelops may be accomplished with the use of the two slots a al the former for indicating the number; and the latter the denomina-tion the words stamps and envelops on the tablet indicating by their position that the slides pointing to the inner scale are for the former and those pointing to the outer scale are for the latter. three slides in each slotand when not used the slides are moved into Zero positions indicated on the scale. In like manner another slot or slots as a2 may be provided for indicating the number of postal cards, postoftice orders, or other supplies wanted. For registering mail matter contained in the boX, a slot as a3 may be provided, in which the names of the article to be registered are used in lieu of the numbers.A In like manner addi; tional slots may be provided for ordering any kind of postofiice supplies or for indicating the kind of mail matter contained in the box or conveying any kind of information to the mail carrier which comes within his duties.

As t-he use of indicators of this character is so well known a further description will be unnecessary and it will be equally well understod that the indicator above described can be variously mOCliied to suittlle .Convenience of the parties interested in its use. There also need be no lrestriction to mail matters alone, but further provision may be made on the tablet having reference to other transactions, as for instance with the butcher, the grocery man etc. Provision may also be made to use the tablet as a bulletin board and to this end I show two slots marked a4 which permits the insertion of a card bearing a want or sale item.

An essential part of my indicator consists in the means of attaching it to a mail-box and to prevent its being tampered with and to this end, the indicator is provided with a locking plate c which at its upper edge is formed or provided with a hook f or its equivalent whereby it may be removably suspended from the edge of the mail-box under the lid and thereby locked in position when the lid is locked. This locking plate is This can be accomplished with i provided upon its vertical edges with retaining ledges g adapted to receive and hold the tablet between them and a ledge g may also be formed along the loWer edge of the locking plate. Upon the face of this locking plate are formed or provided a number of ribs /L which When the indicator tablet is in position on the locking plate and pressed against it, enter the slots thereof and thereby lock the indicator slides therein against movement in either direction. Instead of each rib being formed continuously, it may be divided into a number of sections with intervals between them correspondingto the different positions of the slides in the slot and thereby preventing the slides from being moved by blocking the slides on either side. Similar ribs may be formed to hold the bulletin in place in the slot.

The locking plate may be provided with a suitable latch as i for locking the indicator tablet thereto, and this locking latch may be upon that part of the locking plate which is covered by the lid all so arranged that When the lid is closed the whole indicator is firmly held with the slides exposed but locked against tampering. If not needed the indicator can be removed and stored Within the mail-box.

It is obvious that many dierent means may be provided whereby the lid of the mail box holds the indicator tablet in engagement with the locking plate to keep the slides from being moved and other obvious modifications may be made in the arrangement of the slots and slides. Instead of the slides in each slot all being alike they may be differentiated from each other in form Where one is for indicating stamps and the other for indicating envelops. Or the slots may be provided with indication marks along both edges With slides coperating there- With.

IVhat I claim as my invention is l. An indicator comprising a tablet prothe slots and lock the slides in position therein.

2. An indicator comprising a tablet provided With slots and indications marked thereon, indicating slides in said slots adapted to register with said indications, a locking plate provided With retaining ledges adapted to hold the tablet in position thereon, ribs on the locking plate in registering posit-ion with the slots and adapted to project thereinto when the tablet is in position on the locking plate.

3. In an indicator the combination of a tablet provided With a slot recessed at intervals along one of its edges and an indicating slide in said slot consisting of a strip of sheet metal bent into a loop with hook shaped tongues formed at the ends thereof and adapted to engage into said recesses and adjustably hold the slide in position in the slot.

4. In an indicator, the combination of a tablet provided with a slot recessed at intervals along one of its edges, a slide in said slot consisting of a strip of sheet metal bent into a loop and provided with hook shaped tongues at the open ends adapted to enter into the said recesses and to hold the slide in adjustable engagement With the edges of the slot, and a locking plate provided Wit-h means for securing the tablet thereto, said locking plate provided With a rib adapted to project into the slot and lock the slide in p0- sition therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS J. RIECKHOFF.

Vitnesses:

B. T. O. CLARK, H. A. NICHOLS. 

